By Philip Butterworth-Hayes
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) has opened a consultation on proposed data sharing and associated functionalities between ATM and UTM systems, as well as among multiple UTM service providers (UTMSPs), increasing the emphasis on data-sharing between UTMSPs and reducing the role of a centralised information provider.
“Internationally, these requirements have been implemented in a variety of ways, including through differing approaches to the deployment of Discovery and Synchronisation Service (DSS) and the Common Information Service Provider (CISP) functionalities,” says the CAA in its proposal document. “Rather than mandating the use of a specific product or service provider, the UK has adopted a data-centric approach that focuses on defining the information that must be shared to support safe and effective operations. Where appropriate, the required functionality and proposed mechanisms for sharing that information have been identified.”
The CAA’s current considered approach (to be trialled and being consulted on) is that the DSS should align with the ASTM F3548-21 UAS Service Supplier (USS) interoperability standard, which defines the mechanisms for operational intent sharing, strategic conflict detection and UTMSP-to-UTMSP coordination, according to the proposals.
This new “federated approach” has recently forecast by Unmanned Airspace and Global Airspace Radar articles.
In terms of the CISP: “The initial role of the CISP will be to ensure that UTMSPs have access to the appropriate real-time operational ATM/ANS data that they need to support safe and efficient UAS operations in airspace. In addition, as BVLOS operations scale, the function of the CISP could evolve to enable UTMSPs to share data about their operations i.e., flight intent, with an ANSP managing the airspace…..Initially, the UK proposed approach focuses on a potential minimum dataset comprising: surveillance data (for example, radar-derived information regarding crewed aircraft) airspace management information (for example, restrictions, notifications and changes affecting use of the airspace)…. The proposed UK approach is that the organisation responsible for providing ATS within a particular volume of airspace would be responsible for making this information available. Again, the common example would be, an ANSP responsible for controlled airspace.”
Finally, in terms of other data required for UTM operations shared from a variety of providers: “the proposed approach for the UK is that, instead of being shared through a mandated product or functionality, the data should be shared in a SWIM compliant manner, in accordance with SWIM standards, by the relevant provider. This data should be accessed directly from (authoritative) data sources, depending on the data type. The data requirements should be determined by operational approval i.e., SORA authorisation and / or as a result of operational requirements from the upcoming UTM policy and legislation. In future, the need to certify these data sources may arise, depending on regulatory changes.”
Responses should be submitted by 30 November 2026. The CAA’s dedicated online consultation platform is: https://consultations.caa.co.uk/air-traffic-management/proposed-approach-to cisp-and-dss
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